New York, March 3, 2026, 09:12 (ET) — Premarket
Viavi Solutions Inc barely budged ahead of the bell Tuesday, holding steady after a sharp 19% rally sent the stock up to $35.35 on Monday. The spike was sparked by a price-target boost from Needham and new company news around data-center and next-gen wireless testing. 1
The move is notable: Viavi operates in the jam-packed “picks-and-shovels” space tied to high-speed data-center connections and fresh network infrastructure. A sudden surge in a mid-cap test and measurement name like this can draw fresh eyes toward the wider optical and networking supply chain.
Needham bumped its price target on Viavi up to $36 from $28, sticking with a Buy rating after meeting with management, TheFly reported. Analysts highlighted demand coming from the “Data Center ecosystem” and gains in aerospace and defense, along with more potential from fresh acquisitions. 2
According to an Investing.com report, Viavi CEO Oleg Khaykin, CFO Ilan Daskal, and investor relations head Vibhuti Nayar met with investors face-to-face on Feb. 27. Needham pointed out what it described as a record pace of “optical spend intensity and speed upgrades” fueled by data-center investment. 3
Viavi on Monday flagged results from a joint study with NTT DOCOMO, where the two showcased AI-driven control for 6G radio access networks—the part linking devices to the core system. The company claims its “digital twin” setup, a virtual replica of the network, managed to boost throughput by up to 20% by slashing control overhead. “Intelligent technologies such as tailored network digital twins and AI-powered simulators … enable highly efficient network control,” said Ian Langley, senior vice president at Viavi. Hiroyuki Oto at DOCOMO added that the partnership “will contribute to the realization of 6G technologies.” 4
Viavi announced Tuesday it’s bringing a slate of tech for “next generation AI fabrics”—the ultra-fast networks connecting AI servers—to OFC 2026 in Los Angeles, March 17-19. The lineup spans 1.6T Ethernet, silicon photonics, PCIe over optics, and fiber sensing. New test and inspection tools targeting hyperscale data centers are also on the agenda, the company said. 5
Insider selling popped up in filings after Monday’s rally. General counsel Kevin Christopher Siebert unloaded 7,264 shares at $34.78 apiece on March 2, according to disclosures. Executive vice president Paul McNab moved 3,551 shares at $32.89. 6
Needham’s note taps the demand narrative that’s been driving up shares for test-and-measurement and optical suppliers lately. Viavi, stacked up against players like Keysight Technologies and Japan’s Anritsu, is in the mix wherever clients ramp up spending—usually in fits—when standards shift or link speeds ratchet higher.
Still, a big pop in a single session isn’t always a sure thing. Should those data-center upgrade orders lose steam, or the highly anticipated industry demos don’t turn into actual deals, momentum traders could bolt quickly — particularly with insider sales lingering in the backdrop.
Traders are eyeing Viavi to see if it can stick to Monday’s level once trading gets underway, and if analyst notes follow the action. The next set piece is OFC 2026, slated for March 17-19, where Viavi aims to showcase its 1.6T Ethernet and AI-fabric testing lineup to network and data-center clients.
